Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1003

Agnes wasn't entirely out of her depth, yet the flutter of nerves was unmistakable as she clocked out from work. After her shift, she made her way back to Maplewood Manor, her steps hesitant yet determined. As she entered, the aroma of freshly baked goods enveloped her, drawing her straight to the kitchen.

Jared Whitfield, spotting Agnes, lit up with a grin. "I knew you'd come. I've been experimenting with European pastries today, made a matcha-flavored croissant. Tastes pretty decent. Here, have a taste."

Agnes frowned slightly, taking the offered piece without a word. To her surprise, it was better than anything she’d had from the local bakery.

"How's the taste?" Jared inquired, eager.

Agnes, however, seemed to lose her appetite. "Jared, do you plan on keeping this up forever?"

Jared, taken aback, responded, "Is it not to your liking?"

Putting down the croissant, Agnes got straight to the point. "Jared, when are you planning to go back to work?"

Jared seemed reluctant to dive into that conversation. "Can we not talk about this now, Agnes?"

"You can take a break, Jared, but you can't just give up. Your talents extend far beyond baking. Are you really not considering going back to The Tim Group?"

Jared insisted that he was content. "What about this? You handle the outside world, and I take care of the home. How does that sound?"

Agnes frowned, "When will you start taking things seriously?"

It wasn't that Agnes opposed Jared taking some time off. She was worried about him, concerned that he was avoiding facing his issues head-on. Perhaps the recent events had hit him harder than expected. Not just because of her, but because of Ryder—someone Jared had cherished and nurtured, only to be betrayed and lose everything they had worked for together.